By Sharon Mager
COBB ISLAND, Md. — Patricia (Pat) Ann Blanton passed away peacefully on Aug. 15. She was the wife of Joseph (Joe) Blanton, the pastor of Cobb Island Baptist Church, in Maryland.
Patricia (Pat) Blanton pictured on an opening day of Upward Soccer. Pat started the program at Cobb Island Baptist Church and drew the community together. (photo submitted)
She was born on March 18, 1950, in Washington, DC, to Robert and Lois (Patrick) Spicknall. Pat was a 1968 graduate of Crossland High School. She retired as the Vice President of Electronic Banking at Maryland Bank & Trust/Old Line Bank.
Debbie Flynn, a close friend and member of Cobb Island Baptist Church, said, “When Cobb Island called Pastor Joe, Pat was working full-time at the bank. When she took early retirement, she devoted herself to Cobb Island Baptist church and the community. She really worked full-time in ministry.”
Pat energetically led and served in many ministries as she happily worked alongside Joe.
God burdened Pat to reach out to the children and youth on the island. She felt led to start Upward Soccer and walked through a door only God could have opened. The community responded tremendously, and the church grew. CIBC later added Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading. Many people said that the Upward Sports games pulled their community together, as families gathered each week and parents volunteered. For many unchurched families, Joe became the unofficial pastor.
Pat was actively involved with the Catherine Foundation, a Christian pregnancy center; Kidz in Step Dance & Gymnastics; and Island Angels. She was an Honor Queen JOB’s Daughter.
Before her marriage to Joe, Pat attended Hughesville Baptist Church and was involved in various ministries. Joe was a deacon at Marbury Baptist Church, and Pat began attending and serving with Joe before he accepted the call to pastor CIBC.
Pat actively served the Lord by leading people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Flynn, who is also the administrator at Hughesville Baptist Church, said Pat renamed “Trunk or Treat” to “Treatin’ for Jesus” and took it to a new level. Every Halloween, while church members gave out treats, Pat served cider and cookies and invited visitors to the fellowship hall to learn more about Jesus.
Pat loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed going on cruises and exploring new places.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Spicknall; her sister, Debra Forsythe; and her son, Kevin Green.
In addition to her husband, Joe, Pat is survived by her mother, Lois (Patrick) Spicknall; a brother, Kenneth (Lori) Spicknall of Mary Esther, Florida; her daughters, Cheryl (Brian) Raley of Lexington Park, Maryland, and Jennifer (Matthew) Andrews-Smith of Covington, Georgia; her grandchildren, Blake Davis Andrews, Savannah Paige Raley, Alayna Marie Smith, and Colton Patrick Raley; her nieces and nephews, Shannon Spicknall, Kristine (Ryan) Walsh, Andrew (Stephanie) Spicknall, Tabitha (Jose) Martinez, Tara Forsythe, Tiffany Forsythe, and Kathleen Spicknall; her cousins David (Kathy) Patrick, Kathy (Tom) Schultz, Kelly Tallant, and Billy Wells; and other relatives, Lisa (Mark) Steckroth, Janet (Jon) Thume, and Bud (Kristal) and Cassidy Tippett.
A funeral took place on August 21 at Raymond Funeral Service, and interment followed at Trinity Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Waldorf, Maryland.
Many from the community attended the funeral, according to Flynn. Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department hosted refreshments following the funeral.
Will Lawman, the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Company fire chief, spoke at the repass and shared that Pat was special in his heart and in the community. Lawman’s children played Upward Sports.
In place of flowers, donations can be made to Cobb Island Baptist Church or the Catherine Foundation.